Nicola Brogan
West Tyrone · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“Rinne muid Lá Idirnáisiúnta an Aistriúcháin a cheiliúradh an mhí seo a chuaigh thart. Tugtar seans dúinn an lá sin leis an obair thábhachtach, fhiúntach a dhéanann fir agus mná teanga ar fud an domhain a cheiliúradh.”
“Tugann sé seans do na daoine a bhfuil na teangacha sin acu a gcuid a bheith acu den tsaol anseo agus a bhuíochas sin ar na haistritheoirí agus na hateangairí.”
“<BR /> <BR />Mar sin de, a Cheann Comhairle, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis na haistritheoirí agus na hateangairí uile go léir, bíodh siad ag obair in institiúidí polaitíochta nó amuigh fríd na daoine sna hotharlanna agus sna cúirteanna.”
“<BR /> <BR />Despite an extremely tight budget that continues to be stripped to the bone by consecutive British Governments, investment in waste water infrastructure is continuing. NI Water is getting 90% of the capital money that it could spend this year, which is an increase from last year.”
“The appeal has been supported by the AERA Minister and is due to be heard this December. <BR /> <BR />I have said this before and will say it again: we need to continue to work together to ensure that the A5 is delivered.”
“Minister Kimmins and her predecessor, Minister O'Dowd, have fought tooth and nail for the progression of the A5 road upgrade. As a representative of West Tyrone and someone who uses the road daily, I appreciate the Minister's commitment to that vital project.”
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“No, thank you. <BR /> <BR />No-fault divorce also prevents abusers from contesting a divorce, thereby preventing them from using the court system to further harm their victim. <BR /> <BR />No-fault divorce was recently introduced in England and Wales via the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020. It followed a Supreme Court case, Owens v Owens, in which a petition for divorce was contested and the court ruled in favour of the contesting party on the ground that they could not reasonably be considered at fault for the breakdown of the marriage. The Supreme Court judgement strongly recommended reform of the divorce laws. <BR /> <BR />The modernisation of divorce laws, particularly through no-fault divorce, is gaining traction across many jurisdictions.”
“It ensures that divorces can proceed on a less contentious basis and within a much quicker time frame.”
“In fact, that traps former partners in a broken-down marriage and can have a hugely negative impact on the physical and mental well-being of those affected. The process of divorce should be as efficient and pain-free as possible and should prioritise the welfare of those involved, particularly children and victims of domestic abuse. <BR /> <BR />Our current divorce laws came into force in 1978 and are outdated. We need modern divorce laws that reflect the society in which we live today. The motion calls on the Minister of Finance to legislate for no-fault divorce. No-fault divorce is a much more straightforward and amicable approach to separation. Under no-fault divorce, former spouses can file for divorce independently or jointly without the need for one party to blame the other.”
“The process often puts the parties at loggerheads, creating feelings of resentment in what is already an emotional situation, and it could have a hugely negative impact on the children as well as on those seeking a divorce. Sinn Féin wants laws that encourage amicable and healthy relationships between former spouses that reduce conflict, particularly when children are involved. <BR /> <BR />Another aspect of our current divorce laws that causes great frustration is the time required to complete the process. Even in the most amicable separations, the current law requires former partners to live separately for two years before an application for a divorce can be considered. That increases to five years when one party contests the divorce.”
“Divorce can be a difficult process for any family to go through, especially when children are involved. The statistics for divorce show that, on average, 2,100 couples in the North will seek a divorce every year. The figure has increased over time as society has become more secular. <BR /> <BR />Under current laws, divorce can be granted only if the marriage has irretrievably broken down, with one party taking the blame. An applicant seeking a divorce must state the grounds on which they are applying, and they must provide evidence to the court to support their application. Divorce can be granted only if one or more of five separate grounds are met: they are adultery; unreasonable behaviour; a two-year desertion; a two-year separation if both parties consent; and a five-year separation if only one party consents.”
“It also aims to prevent people from abducting pets, and to punish those who feel that they can abduct pets. We support the motion.”
“Although the Bill is a necessary move to try to tackle the problem of pet theft, it is disappointing that it has not been done on an all-island basis and that there was no public consultation here. If the legislation had been passed through the Assembly, it would have given us the chance to have a public consultation and to better tailor the Bill to the needs of the people here in the North. <BR /> <BR />Currently, it is not mandatory to microchip cats. We encourage owners of cats to have their pets microchipped so that, should the animals, unfortunately, get lost or abducted, the legislation can fulfil its purpose. Theft of pets is a distressing experience for pets and owners. The legislation aims to acknowledge that pets are more than property.”
“As a member of the AERA Committee, I welcome the opportunity to speak on the legislative consent motion on behalf of Sinn Féin. The Pet Abduction Bill was passed in the British Parliament last December. The Bill has seven clauses, and it creates two new offences: dog abduction and cat abduction. The Bill also gives the AERA Minister powers to create abduction offences for other animals that are kept as pets. <BR /> <BR />As other Members have mentioned, there are currently 99,206 dogs licensed in the North, and the PSNI has identified a total of 215 cases of dog theft. The Bill provides for those convicted of dog or cat abduction to be given the maximum prison sentence of five years, a financial penalty or both.”
“Following on from the previous question, can the Minister outline what activities InterTradeIreland runs to support environmental sustainability?”
“Will the Minister outline the next steps in tackling algae blooms in Lough Neagh so that that vital economic asset is protected, le do thoil?”
“I am glad to hear that the A5 road upgrade was discussed at the NSMC meeting. Will the Minister tell us whether the development of the A5 upgrade is a priority for Ministers in the North and South of Ireland? Is seeing the upgrade developed at pace a priority?”
“It is our duty to ensure that our corner of the world carries its weight in the global crisis. I encourage all Members to support the motion.”
“New policies in agriculture are helping to reach that target, but there continues to be a decline in biodiversity, as shown in the 2023 'State of Nature' report. The answer to the biodiversity crisis is conservation work, not the increased exploitation and destruction of habitats. <BR /> <BR />In recent weeks, the Assembly has highlighted the issue of water pollution in the North. The scenes at Lough Neagh last year brought into focus the significant issues of water pollution that the practice of petroleum extraction, especially fracking, would compound. Fracking uses a large amount of water and opens up the possibility of water contamination, so we need to do what we can to prevent that type of water pollution. The motion is another step in the response to the climate crisis.”
“The Climate Change Act 2022 commits us to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, a target that we are already hard-pressed to meet. It is entirely contradictory to set that target while allowing space for the development of a future fossil fuel industry here with the production of petroleum via fracking. <BR /> <BR />We need to focus on the development of solar, onshore and offshore wind and hydroelectric energy production to meet our obligations. We also need to comply with the 30 by 30 commitment made by the former AERA Minister, which aims to set aside 30% of the land and sea as protected areas for nature restoration by 2030 in order to stall biodiversity loss and create new habitats for wildlife.”
“As Sinn Féin spokesperson on climate and the environment, I am pleased to join my Sinn Féin colleagues in bringing the motion to the Floor calling for petroleum licensing and fracking to be banned in the North. I thank the Economy Minister for being here; for participating in the debate; for listening to the widespread concerns about the environmental and public health risks associated with these practices; and ultimately for taking action on the matter. We need to see legislative change to ban petroleum licensing and fracking here, which have the potential to cause so much damage to our environment and stress to our local communities. <BR /> <BR />The Hatch report sets out in great detail the environmental risks that we run in the North even with low-level development of petroleum exploration and extraction.”
“Minister, will you outline the timeline of how agreement on the 2024-25 Budget was reached and how you plan to take it forward?”
“Are there legally binding measures in the plan to reach the 30 by 30 target to which the previous AERA Minister committed?”
“The Finance Committee has spent considerable time discussing this extension, and, while some Members expressed discomfort about extending the provision under the Coronavirus Act, there was broad agreement that it was necessary to prevent these provisions from lapsing. I am happy to support the motion today to extend the provisions for six months, and I look forward to coming back to the Chamber in the near future to debate the permanent legislation.”
“Allowing families to complete this process over the phone removes the need to travel to a registry office, which can be stressful for those who have suffered a recent loss. The option to register deaths via telephone has been widely availed of by the public since its introduction, and it has reduced the administrative burden on those who deliver the service. To revert back to the old system at this stage would only cause stress and confusion. <BR /> <BR />The motion before us will extend the provision for a further six months, which will give time for the Department to draft permanent legislation.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement and for bringing this motion to the Assembly. I am happy to speak in support of the motion. <BR /> <BR />As the Minister outlined, this legislation was introduced during the pandemic to allow the registration of deaths and stillbirths to take place via telephone and for documents such as death certificates to be sent electronically. This was necessary to allow registrations to continue during the pandemic whilst minimising face-to-face contact. During a recent Finance Committee briefing, we learned that the feedback for this service was extremely positive from those involved in the registration process and bereaved families. <BR /> <BR />The death of a loved one is a difficult time for anyone to go through, and the process of registering a death should be as flexible and stress-free as possible.”
“Will the Minister describe what his Department's approach is to decarbonising the transport system, le do thoil”
“<BR /> <BR />Unfortunately, the Executive have no power over financial regulation. The Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority in Britain are responsible for challenging insurers on unfair hikes in insurance premiums. It is beyond time that those regulators held insurers to account. That needs to happen urgently. <BR /> <BR />The British Government should explore ways to alleviate the costs, such as reducing the 12% premium insurance tax that is being lumped into people's renewal quotes. Sinn Féin will continue to press the insurance industry on the spiralling prices and stand up for the people who are struggling to afford the costs.”
“The average insurance policy for motorists here is now £1,000, which would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. That has a deep impact and knock-on effect on workers and families. I have heard countless examples of first-time drivers passing their test and then being unable to afford to get on to the road. <BR /> <BR />People struggle to pay those high insurance rates alongside high fuel prices and other costs. Insurers say that the increases are due to inflation and the cost of car parts and replacements. However, during the pandemic, when there was a dramatic drop in travel, we did not see insurers issue the same dramatic drop in insurance prices. The reality is that the insurance industry is making huge profits while workers and families struggle to cope with increasing costs.”
“I want to highlight the significant increases in car insurance prices, which are crippling workers and families, many of whom are already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. Over the past year, many people have seen their car insurance quotes increase at unprecedented rates, even if they have not had an accident, received a speeding fine or had a change in circumstances. Some drivers have been unfairly charged on the basis of a postcode lottery, with people in some constituencies being charged significantly more than others on the basis of their home address rather than their driving history. <BR /> <BR />In January, it was reported that the average car insurance price this year is £383 more expensive than last year, and those costs continue to surge.”
“Will the Minister outline who is eligible for the back in business scheme?”
“Will the Minister outline what support has been given to the high street traders that were affected by the severe flooding recently, le do thoil”
“Following his engagements with companies in the US last week, does the Minister believe that the North is an attractive place to invest?”
“. Thank you. I thank the Member for his intervention. The Strule shared campus is really important to the people of Omagh and west Tyrone. We want to see it delivered, and there are some complexities around the Fresh Start money with it as well. We want to see it being delivered at pace.”
“The Strule Shared Education Campus in Omagh is unique and exciting because at its heart lies Arvalee special school. Arvalee is a wonderful school with so many bright, happy and hard-working students and staff. Children with special educational needs, their families and their school staff should be a part of the shared education experience. The coming together of schools, including the special learners, gives those children and young people, who are at risk of being excluded by society, a rightful presence and a voice in education. The Strule project is not just about a shared campus; it is about a shared vision and the opportunity of equity for all children and young people.”
“The Strule project is not one of those, but recent announcements by the Education Minister suggest that it, too, could become a potential victim due to the re-profiling of finances by the British Secretary of State. I want to make it clear that we cannot let the Strule Shared Education Campus become a victim of British underinvestment. We must work together to deliver that flagship project, which will benefit not only the children and young people of Omagh and the surrounding towns but the local education workforce, the local economy and the wider community of Omagh and west Tyrone. <BR /> <BR />There are many benefits to shared education. It offers children from different religious, social and economic backgrounds an opportunity to learn together and to learn from each other.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate and thank the Members who tabled the motion. I am happy to support the motion and the amendment. <BR /> <BR />It has been mentioned by a number of Members, but I want to reinforce the point about how shared education must not be forgotten in the discussion. Shared education is a powerful force for good in our communities, and we must continue to work together to ensure that it is properly resourced and supported. Shared education not only delivers educational benefits to children and young people, it promotes good relations as well as respect for identity, diversity and community cohesion. <BR /> <BR />I make particular mention of the Strule Shared Education Campus in Omagh town. I take Kate's point that the motion is about the 10 projects impacted by the Fresh Start funding.”
“<BR /> <BR />Prior to the restoration of the Assembly, the Secretary of State had threatened to impose a 15% rates hike as a means to raise £113 million. A rates increase of that magnitude would, undoubtedly, have plunged many businesses and many households into acute financial crisis. The Executive were right to resist calls from the Secretary of State to have unfair tax increases during a cost-of-living crisis. I thank the Finance Minister again for her steady leadership at this time.”
“The cost-of-living crisis has had a devastating impact across society. So many families out there really struggle to pay the bills and put food on the table. Rising costs have also contributed to a much more difficult environment for businesses, with many shutting their doors. It is important that, as we debate striking a rate for the year ahead, we are mindful of the families and businesses that are struggling to survive. <BR /> <BR />The domestic and non-domestic poundage multiplier set out in the Rates Order for 2024-25 keeps the percentage increase in line with inflation, which sits at 4%. That level of increase strikes a good balance between ensuring the delivery of sustainable public services and protecting the most vulnerable in society.”
“I thank the Minister for bringing the regional rates order for 2024-25 to the Assembly. I appreciate the very tight time frame in which to issue rates bills to households in early April, as scheduled. <BR /> <BR />As Members will know, the regional rate is the only major tax that the Executive have control over. In the current financial year, Land and Property Services collected almost £1·5 billion in rates, which includes the district rate set by councils. The revenue generated by rates is used by the Executive and councils to deliver public services, including health, education, roads and waste management. Without the revenue generated by rates, the Executive would not be able to sustain our front-line public services, which people rely on every day.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is hugely important that we come together and work to ensure that this project is completed. We cannot accept any more delays to the A5. I look forward to working with the Executive and my colleagues across the House to ensure that the A5 project is completed.”
“I join others, including the Infrastructure Minister, in urging those objectors to reconsider their continuing legal challenges, to consider instead how deadly the road is and to think of the many lives that have been lost and the many people and communities who have been left devastated by the death of loved ones because the road as it is now is simply not fit for purpose. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the commitment from Michelle O'Neill in her inaugural address as First Minister to the delivery of the A5 upgrade as a strategic priority for the newly established Executive. I welcome the Infrastructure Minister's commitment and determination to progress the road and make its delivery a priority. I was also really pleased to hear the Irish Government announce last week that they will provide €600 million towards the A5 project.”
“Those tragic losses are completely devastating for families and communities. We heard about the impact of those losses during the recent public inquiry into the A5 road scheme. Families who lost loved ones on the A5 shared powerful and moving testimonies about their losses, which illustrated the reality that people face because of the dangers of that road and the importance of completing the scheme. I again thank the families for their powerful and poignant contributions to the public inquiry. They have shown great strength and dignity through some very difficult times. <BR /> <BR />It is unfortunate that, owing to legal challenges brought by a small minority, there have been significant delays to the project.”
“It is a heartbreaking reality that, until the A5 is upgraded and made safe for users, it will continue to take lives.”
“It will improve connectivity to the region, it will boost economic growth and business development in the area, and it will mean that local people have better access to opportunities such as education, training and employment. As I said, those are wonderful opportunities that will be important developments for the area. For me and for many in West Tyrone, however, the most important reason for the upgrade of the road is to make it safer and to protect lives. <BR /> <BR />I secured an Adjournment debate on the safety of the A5 in January 2022, following the deaths of three young men who lost their lives on the road over Christmas 2021. I am sorry and saddened to say that, since then, the road has taken even more lives. More than 50 people have been killed on it since 2006.”
“I welcome the opportunity to have the debate. I thank the Infrastructure Minister, John O'Dowd, for being here and for his ongoing commitment to the delivery of the A5 project. <BR /> <BR />The A5 road upgrade is a hugely important issue for the people of West Tyrone and, indeed, for people across the north-west of Ireland. It is, without doubt, the topic that I am most often asked about by my constituents, who really want to see the road developed. I am really glad to bring it to the Floor of the Assembly. I will continue to raise the issue until we see the project's full delivery. <BR /> <BR />The upgrade of the A5 road network offers wonderful opportunities for the entire north-west of Ireland.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. I thank the Minister. The Minister will understand how important the delivery of the A5 is for the people of West Tyrone, and I appreciate his continued commitment to the project. Can he outline whether he expects there to be any further legal challenges to the scheme?”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire fosta. Thank you, Minister, for your statement. This breed of XL bully-type dog is not specifically banned in the South of Ireland; instead, it falls under a list of restricted breeds. Will the Minister tell me whether he has liaised with his colleague Heather Humphreys on the matter? What is his assessment of the approach of the Southern Government on this, le do thoil [Translation: please]?”
“Mr Gray is passionate about the opportunity of equity that shared education can bring for all our children and young people. It is vital that children with additional needs are part of that. <BR /> <BR />The coming together of schools, including those for special learners, gives children and young people who are at risk of being excluded by society a rightful presence and a voice in education. Strule is unique, and the value of its potential is beyond money. I have invited the Education Minister to Omagh to visit the Strule campus and Arvalee. I hope that he will join us and support the campus.”
“We heard directly from young people who form part of the Strule school council. They shared with us their experiences of being part of that shared council, how much they had learned from each other and how beneficial the Strule campus will be for young people in the area. Unfortunately, most of the pupils with whom we spoke will have left school before the Strule campus is complete. However, they are still enthusiastic about the good that can come from shared education. <BR /> <BR />The event was kindly hosted by the principal of Arvalee special school, Mr Jonathan Gray. Arvalee is the only school on the Strule campus site at present. It is also the only special needs school that is part of a shared education project.”
“I want to record my continued support for the Strule shared education campus in Omagh and my thanks to the principals of the six local schools that are connected to the campus for their ongoing work and determination in ensuring that the project is completed. <BR /> <BR />Party colleagues and I, along with a wide range of other representatives, attended a useful information night last Thursday regarding the Strule project. We heard from the principals and pupil representatives of Sacred Heart College, Omagh; Omagh High School; Omagh CBS; Omagh Academy; Loreto Grammar School, Omagh; and Arvalee special school, Omagh. The event was particularly interesting because it focused on the educational benefits of the shared campus for the children and young people of Omagh and for the education workforce in the town.”
“As the deputy First Minister has outlined, the work of the bureau is extremely important to increasing trade, investment, tourist opportunities and employment. Will the deputy First Minister provide an assessment of the bureau's delivery over the past 12 months, le do thoil?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Buíochas leis an Aire fosta.”
“Minister, can you provide an update on the Department's rates revenue-raising consultation, le do thoil”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire fosta.”
“Will the Minister outline what actions he is taking to tackle electric connection charging policy prices here?”